Lilliana Vazquez: The Style Expert with a Passion for NEW

Host, influencer, expert producer, style advisor and Founder of TesoroCollective.com, Lilliana Vazquez is one of the most sought after personalities in the industry. As a Style Expert on The Today Show and correspondent for Access Hollywood, Lilliana has interviewed A-list entertainers like Jennifer Lopez, Charlize Theron, Tina Fey, Garth Brooks and Sarah Jessica Parker. Committed to both her work and charity initiatives, Lilliana is heavily involved with the Hispanic Federation- the nation’s premiere Latino nonprofit membership organization that seeks to support Hispanic families and strengthen Latino institutions through work in the areas of education, health, immigration and economic empowerment.

How did you get your start in your career?
On TV … My news director (Chris Blackman) at NBC 10 took a huge chance on me and put me on-air in Philadelphia. I didn’t have one ounce of TV news experience but he hired me (as a freelancer) after our first meeting because of my spirit and spunk. He said he knew I was a quick learner and could handle anything he threw my way! He was right and I owe my career in television to him. He’s become a dear friend and advisor.

What motivates you to get out of bed on a Monday morning?
New is my caffeine! I love the potential of new opportunities and the chance to try something for the first time!

If you could choose one super power, what would it be?
Teleport. My job requires me to travel all the time and it wound be really nice to blink twice and be home!

What’s the best and worst decision that you made in your career?Best Decision: Ask my executive producer to let me host The Today Show. It was bold, but I knew I had earned the opportunity. It taught me a very important lesson (that I remind myself and my employees of constantly) – no one is just going to give you something. At a certain level in your career, you have to (wo)man up and ask for the things that you want. When the stakes of the ask are high, it shows the person you’re asking that you are 100% confident in your ability to deliver on the opportunity.

Worst Decision: Taking less than I deserved for a very big project because I was scared to lose the job if I asked for what I knew I deserved. There is so much power in a pass and I didn’t have the right team in place to empower me to make that hard, but right decision.

Which women do you feel inspires you?
At the moment, young women like Yara Shahidi and Emma Gonzales. At their age, I was worried about boys and lipgloss – they’re worried about making this country safer, kinder and a more tolerant place. I am so proud of this next generation – they are outspoken, confident, curios young women who are unafraid to ask questions. I can’t wait for them to enter the workforce and teach me a thing or two! We have a lot to learn from them.